Tail light



Feb. 2 ,1926.

Y J. V. MACHESKY TAIL LIGHT Filed Jan. 8, 1923 Tlgi Patented Feb. 2, 1926. T=

UNITED STATES JOHN V. MACHESKY, OF GROSSE POINTE PARK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB TO HUDSON MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,

PATENT OFFICE.

A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

, 'TAIL LIGHT..

Application filed January 8, 1923. Serial No. 611,328. it

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN V. MAoHEsKY', a citizen of the United States, residing at Grosse Pointe Park; county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tail Lights, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to tail lights for automobiles which throw a beam of colored light rearwardly to prevent rear-end collisions and another beam of white light downward to illuminate a number plate or license tag. The particular object of the invention is to provide a cheaper, more satisfactory and more durable lamp which will comply with the strictest requirements and at the same time will give the operator of the vehicle the least possible trouble.

Heretofore, it has been customary to provide ared bulls-eye which throws a beam of red light rearwardly and a sector of celluloicL pyroxylin or other similar material through which white light passes to illuminate the number plate or license tag. It has been found to be essential that the electric light bulb contained within the tail light be completely enclosed, so that dust, mud, and water cannot reach the interior and reduce the illuminating power of the bulb. It has also been found that celluloid or pyroxylin becomes discolored and is not durable so that some States now require that glass be used for this purpose. When a cylinder of glass is employed with a glass bulls-eye at the rear, a complicated structure results which is likely to become noisy and rattle when subjected to the vibration to which a tail light is always subjected and also to become loose and admit dust and mud so that the illuminating power is rapidly reduced. It is also difficult and inconvenient to replace the bulb with a new one when the old one has burned out.

My invention provides a tail light of the simplest construction having the necessary provision for a beam of colored light and for illumination of the license tag. It also affords a lamp which can be sealed against dust, mud and water, and can be quickly opened without injury to the parts when it is necessary to remove the electric bulb.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claims atthe close of this specification.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a tail light and license-tag bracket embodyingmy in- Vention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the lamp taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig.3 is a vertical section of the glass member of the lamp.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a tail light embodying my invention in a slightly modilied form.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the glass to be employed in the tail light shown in Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings, at 11 is shown the lamp bracket, at 12 a license tag and at 13 a lamp proper. The electric light bulb is designated 8 and the socket 7. It will be understood, of course, that the lamp bracket and license tag are shown merely for purposes of illustration and form no part of my invention, since standard parts can be employed for these urposes. The

lamp 13 comprises a base t to which is' permanently secured a shell 15. The shell 15 is preferably constructed of sheet metal and has an inturned flange 16 and is provided with a segmental opening 17 through which a white light can pass downwardly to illuminate the license tag. In the form shown in Figure 2. the shell is also provided with screw threads 10 adjacent the base 14. At 18 is shown a glass member which is cylindrical or cup-shaped and is provided with a barrel a of white glass and a bulls-eye b of red or other colored glass. This bulls-eye is preferably made with a series of annular prisms c, c, in the manner well known to those skilled in the art. It also is provided with a flange d adapted to rest against the flange 16 of the shell. The barrel a is also supplied, in my preferred form, with screw threads e for engagement with the screw-threaded portion 10 of the shell 15. The red or other colored portion of the glass member 18 is indicated by double cross-hatching in Figures 2 and 3. It will be understood, of course, that any desired portion of the glass member can be made of red or other colored glass, the remainder being made of white.

From vthe foregoing it will be seenthat the glass member 18 can be screwed into the shell until the flange d contacts with the flaii ejllbrand"thefcpen end ofthe barrel contacts with a gasket 19 located between it and the shell. This makes a dustand water-tight compartment within which the electric light bulb ismenclosed so that the 9 light bulb is indicated -at-8,zthe-s'hell at-20 and: the glass." whichv is shown separate frem the Shelly-in Figure 5,' at 21. -This glass has a white barrel 7 and a red bulls-eye 'orfrearportion: lo and a seat flange h, but is not provided with screwthre'ads: as. in the case of of thezg lass18,ishown.in Figures lto 3 :inelusive. Between the shelliandithebarrel of the glas's is a gasket 22 and} the glass is held in place in the shell by a clamping ring 23=attached t0 the portion 2' of the shell screws. Tb removethe" -'electr'ic-= light bulb-for replacelnent it is onl -necessar to remove the clamping ring 23 when the glass 2l'ca'n be taken out, exposing the electric light bulb, 1 i V Vhat I claim is An improved; tail lamp co n prising -a cylindrical shell; op'en at one vend and; an integr'alg cne-shape; glass member. insertable in said shell, the rearportion 7 pt ,said glass member beingcolored -glass and the barrel portion-i white 1 glass; and a -circumferential flange; on sai d= glass"member-adapted to: en?

gage, the edge ofgthe shell! at its open end to make a tight 'oint therewithi; ,7 r In testimqnywhereof Laifix my 1 signatu 1'0. 

